Starting our day, we step out wearing a comfortable pair of shoes. This keeps us safe from injuring our feet. However, we tend to let the guard down when it comes to foot care at home. This is often due to inadequate home health care.
For most people with diabetes, the chances of feet injury are high at home and this can lead to a host of diabetic feet complications.
Why foot care in diabetes
Having diabetes, you have a higher risk of infection or injury to your feet because of reduced blood flow and nerve damage. When neglected, even minor niggles like cracked heels, corns, and disfigured nails can lead to infections. These infections take time to heal as the immunity of a person with diabetes is reduced.
That is why it is necessary to take proper care of your feet while at home as you are more vulnerable to diabetic foot problems.
Something as small as a blister can possibly lead to a risk of infection and increase the chance of losing your toe, foot, or even your leg!
To avoid this, you need a proper diabetes treatment at home that assists you with everyday challenges of diabetes, and helps you protect your feet.
What can go wrong with your feet at home?
These days, most of the urban population lives in apartment complexes and gated communities. So, the risk of having muddy feet is pretty much bleak. However, there are other hidden dangers that can injure your feet at home.
Foot injury risks at home
- Not using diabetic footwear that offers complete protection at home (Walking barefoot)
- Improper footwear
- Walking on slippery tiles
- Bumping into objects like furniture, doors, or steps
- Moving unprotected on wet floors (bathrooms)
- Exposure to bacteria at home
- Standing for a long time in the kitchen which leads to blisters, bruised toenails, and corns
- Improper protection during exercise or household chores
- Unhygienic practices while cutting nails of feet
Get a dedicated diabetes care team for diabetes care at home. Enquire Now.
Tips for foot and diabetes care at home
- First things first, take care of your diabetes – regularly monitor and maintain your blood sugar level within the target range.
- Check your feet every single day! Look for any cuts, swelling, red spots or blisters.
- Wash and clean your feet every day and make sure to dry them well, especially between your toes.
- Do not use extreme hot water, electric heating pads, etc. as you can burn your feet without even realizing it.
- Smooth calluses and corns gently with pumice stone; apply a thin layer of lotion on top and bottom of your feet. For healthy foot care consult our diabetes experts
- Trim your toenails whenever needed and file the edges with a nail file. Use only sterile nail cutters and files.
- Wear proper diabetic footwear at all times and never walk barefoot, especially on hot pavements or wet floors.
- Put on socks at night before bed if your feet get cold.
- While sitting, put your feet up and keep moving your toes, ankles up and down few times a day.
- Be more physically active and plan your activity with the help of a diabetes doctor.
- Avoid smoking as it leads to long term complications.
- Meet your podiatrist on the regular to treat foot problems.
- Call your diabetes doctor immediately if your foot injury or infection does not heal after one whole day.
For those dealing with diabetes, proper foot care is very important. If you experience any lack of sensation, or tingling or heat sensation in the feet, you need to consult a diabetes doctor or a podiatrist for expert foot care.
Finally, using diabetic footwear at home reduces pressure on your feet, prevents undue friction, and protects you from serious diabetic foot complications.
To know more about diabetes treatment at home, get in touch with our expert diabetes care team.
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